Next Year If All Goes Well (1981)

Film Overview
The French motion picture "Next Year If All Goes Well" ("L'année prochaine ... si tout va bien") directed by Jean-Louis Hubert and launched in 1981, is a romantic comedy that explores the styles of love, liberty and societal expectations. The film stars Isabelle Adjani and Thierry Lhermitte as the lead characters, Isabelle and Patrick, whose bohemian lifestyle clashes with standard norms.

Plot Synopsis
Isabelle and Patrick lead a non-traditional life, as the couple declines to partake in a standard married way of life. This is sustained by Isabelle's rejection to flex to the societal expectations caused upon her. She rejects the idea of having a kid, not due to a lack of desire but due to her ravenous thirst for self-reliance. Patrick, who is passionately in love with Isabelle, supports her choices and remains by her side regardless of societal pressure to adhere.

Their life as a couple ends up being increasingly complicated when Isabelle's moms and dads, Mr. and Mrs. Bucaille, intervene and reveal their displeasure of the lifestyle of their daughter and her partner. They try to persuade their child to settle, get married, and have a kid, however their efforts are unsuccessful.

Character Development
Isabelle showed strong character development throughout the film. From the beginning, she is portrayed as a woman who defies stereotypical conventions of the time. Despite many attempts from her family and friends to influence her, Isabelle keeps her steady conviction that she need to live her life on her own terms. She selects flexibility and independence over societal constraints, a choice which is further solidified as the film advances.

On the other hand, Patrick's character remains love-struck, encouraging, and understanding towards Isabelle's options. His long-lasting love for Isabelle grows as their relationship evolves, and he respects her individuality despite societal expectations.

Styles
In its whole, "Next Year If All Goes Well" offers primarily with themes of societal pressures, specific liberty, love, and resistance to conform. The plot revolves around the central concept that conventional standards and social worths should not dictate specific decision-making, particularly when it comes to individual life choices. It challenges the standard standards of matrimony and being a parent.

Crucial Reception
Upon its release, "Next Year If All Goes Well" gathered favorable reviews for its exploration of non-traditional love, and its bold, questionable take on traditional social norms. Isabelle Adjani's portrayal of a nonconforming, independent female was highly commended.

Conclusion
"Next Year If All Goes Well" is a movie that resurrects the narrative of the bohemian lifestyle in the middle of a society that values conformity and tradition. It celebrates the spirit of resistance, individuality, and the option of living life on one's own terms. The film took an unique place for itself in the French movie theater of the time for its progressive outlook on the principle of womanhood and collaboration. It highlights the struggle of conformity versus self-reliance, showcasing the power of individual option above social expectations.

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